Temporary UFC arena built on the South Lawn of the White House for Freedom 250
Construction begins on the White House South Lawn Arena for the 5,000-guest UFC Freedom 250.
Since President Donald Trump began his second term, renovating the White House and parts of Washington, D.C., has been one of his priorities as he prepares for the nation’s 250th anniversary.
Construction projects such as the demolition of the East Wing of the White House and the repainting of the reflecting pool at the Lincoln Memorial have been in the news.
Historic preservationists have denounced the project, citing the need for a formal review of historic buildings and Congressional approval for such changes. Meanwhile, the Trump administration defended them, saying the president wanted to renovate the city ahead of summer celebrations.
Here, we will introduce President Trump’s renovation projects and their status across Washington, DC.
“Arc de Triomphe”
President Donald Trump has proposed building a 250-foot-tall “Arc de Triomphe” near Arlington National Cemetery. Renderings of the proposed structure show it resembles the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.
The memorial will be located on Columbus Island at Memorial Circle between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery. Axios reported in November that construction of the arch could cost about $100 million.
The funding is expected to come from a combination of public and private funds. The White House told USA TODAY that the Fine Arts Commission approved the project. The project is being considered by the National Capital Planning Commission. The group’s first meeting will be Thursday, June 4th.
In addition, the Interior Department is conducting legally required site investigations, including geotechnical work, the White House said, noting that the investigations are standard practice for testing sites and soil.
Geotechnical and site investigation work is required before a final proposal can be made.
Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool
In April, President Trump announced plans to renovate the Lincoln Memorial’s reflecting pool. USA TODAY previously reported that the president had complained about sewage and foundation leaks.
The Biden administration considered replacing the pool’s granite, but the plan was not moved forward because it was estimated to cost $301 million.
Instead of replacing the granite, the Trump administration hired a $1.5 million contractor to resurface the bottom, similar to an industrial pool.
The basin is painted to reflect the blue of the American flag.
On Tuesday, June 2, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said on the X show that the landmark would be completed by Independence Day.
white house banquet hall
President Trump first announced plans for the White House Ballroom in July 2025. In October, the east wing was demolished to make room for a 90,000-square-foot building.
Since the announcement, the cost of the project has increased from $200 million to $400 million.
Additionally, the Trump administration is facing a lawsuit over the construction.
In December, the National Trust for Historic Preservation sued the administration and several agencies involved in the project, according to previous reporting by USA TODAY. Those groups argued that Trump should have gotten approval from Congress before demolishing it.
Administrative lawyers, meanwhile, argue that the president’s approval was not needed because the project was funded by private donations, not taxpayers.
A federal judge ordered the project halted in March. This was followed on Thursday by an order by the Trump administration blocking surface construction work on the project.
The latest development in construction is a rooftop “drone port” that President Trump revealed in a Truth social post on Sunday, May 31st. The president said the “drone port” is necessary to protect Washington, D.C., from threats.
It remains to be seen whether this project will come to fruition.
The White House told USA TODAY that the project is pending in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. A hearing before a circuit court panel is scheduled for June 5. Construction sites are still in operation.
kennedy center
Last year, the president began renovations to the Kennedy Center. USA TODAY previously reported that the renovations included painting the pillars, refinishing the marble, replacing chairs and renovating the stage.
On Friday, May 29, a federal judge ruled that President Trump illegally added his name to the Kennedy Center. The judge also blocked the administration from closing the venue for renovations.
In a post on Truth Social about the decision, President Trump said that millions of dollars in materials, marble, furniture, steel, air conditioning, heating, and much more have been ordered or will soon be ordered, resulting in a “structure that is no longer in danger of collapsing, rusting, rotting, and potentially infested with rats and insects.”
UFC area
In late May, the White House installed the Ultimate Fighting Championship Arena on the South Lawn. USA TODAY reports that the president is in talks about keeping the stage, albeit temporarily.
“I’m considering it, but we’ll probably never take it down,” President Trump said on TikTok on June 2.
The arena was set up for the game scheduled for June 14, President Trump’s 80th birthday and National Flag Day.
The structure is 90 feet tall and supports lighting, audio and video boards. The arena features an octagonal cage where UFC fighters fight.
It is estimated that the structure can accommodate 5,000 people.
Michelle Del Rey is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Please contact mdelrey@usatoday.com.
